Public hearing set on competing New Hanover County hospital proposals

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A public hearing has been scheduled to gather feedback on competing proposals to add acute care hospital beds in New Hanover County.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will hold the hearing Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. in the meeting room of the Arboretum Education Center, 6206 Oleander Drive in Wilmington.

The hearing is part of the certificate of need process for three proposals submitted in response to the state’s determination that New Hanover County needs 225 additional acute care beds.

The proposals include:

UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center Inc., which is seeking approval to build a new 150-bed hospital in Wilmington. The project carries an estimated cost of $852.6 million and would be completed by July 2031.

Atrium Health Coastal Inc. and Advocate Health Inc., which are proposing a new 42-bed hospital in Wilmington. The project is estimated to cost $395.7 million and would be completed by January 2032.

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center LLC and Novant Health Inc., which are proposing to add 225 acute care beds to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, increasing its total capacity to 954 beds. The expansion is expected to cost $236.7 million and be completed by January 2030.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals may attend the public hearing or submit written comments to the Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section.

Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. July 31. Comments may be emailed to DHSR.CON.Comments@dhhs.nc.gov or mailed to:

Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section
Division of Health Service Regulation
2704 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2704